While crossing the finishing line, Feyisa Lelisa crossed his arms above his head to draw attention in solidarity of anti-government protesters in Oromia.

Awramba Times (Addis Ababa) Ethiopian athlete Feyisa Lilesa has won a silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympic, men’s Marathon.

While crossing the finishing line, Feyisa crossed his arms above his head to draw attention in solidarity of anti government protestors back in his home region.

Feyisa became the youngest man to run under 2:06 hours when he set his personal best (2:05:23) in the men’s marathon at the 2010 Rotterdam Marathon. His personal best of 2:04:52 (set in 2012) ranked him in the top ten fastest marathoners ever.

In 2009 he has won the Dublin Marathon in his debut race and he consecutively won the Xiamen international marathon in 2010.

55 Responses

Here is a man not only an olympic champion but also a patriot! This is huge for the oppressed Oromo and shame to whomever suppresses them. People all over the world are talking about his “funny way” of raising hands to victory. Little does the world know the significance…..

why you deny the reality word’s talking about?? narrow minded is the one who don care about his brother and sisters massacre/death unjustly by dictotors! ka andend zerangoch bestaker lelisa yehulachenim jegna new

Hiding your head in the sand won’t help you out. He might have just stole the man of the Rio Olympics by just standing up for his oppressed people!

Who gave you the idea that he is an OLF, which shouldn’t be a problem even he was in the first place,? Appears to me he has a different wrist band flag on him during the press conference. A striking difference between him and your other olympian, Robel-the-Whale. Think about that for a moment!

We are talking about the Asylum seeker athlete. If you want to talk about Wolkait go to Wolkait and they will show you. Gonder ketema adelem wolkait yalew, I think it is in Tigray. Wolkait leadis ababa minu newna new selamawi self wuta yemilut yeadisaban hizb.

Athletes are supposed to compete as independent Olympians at the Olympic Games representing their country and flag. Not government or Political Party. Feyissa Lilesa, who stood second place in Rio Olympic men’s marathon interviewed with EBC in Afan Oromo instead of the official language Amharic, then after, the unnecessary gesture he showed at the final lap and refusal to swing the Ethiopian flag at the end of the game reflects, this man uses the Olympic game to reflect his political mission. Moreover, the overall Ethiopian athletes performance at Rio Olympic isn’t to the standard and as expected. The failure is mainly due to the toxic Diaspora meddling and influence. The government should initiate an investigation of treason charges on those who are involved in this shameful crime.

First of all what’s his answer if he’s asked who he represented, himself, the oromo people, or the country ” Ethiopia”. Even though I admire him as an athlete I found him very much immature by his actions. He doesn’t seem to know anything. Anything about the very meaning of an event like the Olympic and a protest. Though I respect him as a person I felt harassed by his actions. His indecent act by any standard doesn’t represent the entire Oromos. The Oromo people, culture and way of expressing differences shouldn’t have been degraded in this manner and by this level as if we are uncivilised. The guy was not representing the government in Ethiopia. He wasn’t representing himself or the political party he supports ( which he is allowed to) . I am sorry for him that he let himself to be a weapon for those selfish diaspora, who always think they are the only ones who went to school ( if they did). Idiots. He disgraced our fathers, our Olympic heros, Abebe Bikila, Mamo Wolde, Miruth Yifter ,Derartu Tulu, Haile G/ Sillasie , Kenenisa Bekele, Tirunesh Dibaba, Gezaghegn Abera, Almaz Ayana and all the other heros who I can’t list them now. They didn’t represent themselves , the government then or EPRDF but they represented A NATION and ITS PEOPLE. I honour them and the will remain honoured in history.
He missed the responsibility he was given – representing a nation, a nation he undermined in front of the whole world is Ethiopia, not a party or government he doesn’t support. How come his common sense, if not intellect didn’t tell him all the thousands of athletes there from nearly 100 countries may or may not have a problem back home, may or may not support the government back home. What example he set for his young children.
Those idiots want us dead for them to sit in power. That will be their worst nightmare, not even in their coming life. They didn’t care to misguide this innocent man, what to disagree means. We should forgive this man to forgive himself. He was misguided by those hatemongers, idiots who are only after their cheap popularity. When our diaspora darlings prefer our historical enemies than us, when they wish our death to pay their bills, when they’re filled with hate and disrespect us, when they count us low – they are actually low. When they are lower, we grow higher. WE DON’T HATE.
God Bless Ethiopia.

Man yinekawal yihenen chemlaka. Miruts was tigre while his families were killed in 10th of thousands he didn’t defect. But this guy has a right to do so not in this way. His medal will be stripped. Why is he staying in the west if he is really concerned about his people he should go back and fight for freedom. He should say he has planned to get asylum.

Miruts was forced into asylum during woyanes and he aged in Canada till recently. But before woyane, he was leading a comfortable and respectable life in Addis. He was even in authority in Ethiopian sport federation because of his skill (not his ethnicity ). Ethiopia had ethnic blind government then. He was the flag holder in the Olympics he represented his country, Ethiopia just because he was our pride. who do we have now? Robel The whale just because he is woyane. you are narrow minded and insecured tribalist who can’t think beyond you woyane family.

Thank you Feyisa Lilesa, you are a brave man, and the greatest of all by representing the Ethiopian people in the Rio Olympic. You showed in the world stage your defiance, the symbol of defiance of the Ethiopian people to the looters agent and tyrant and corrupt to its core of the Ethiopian ruling gangsters.

What ever, at least they are building roads, schools, electric dams than the previous Governments together, are you on your right mind or you just hate them because they didn’t stick their money in Swiss banks or in Zimbabwe, watch out what you wish for before you open your mouth!!

Feyisa Lilesa, my hero!! The Ethiopian people and history will remember your just action!!
The disobedience will continue!!
A government that massacre its own people simply because they rejected its authority through demonstrations; will face justice for innocent blood they cowardly spill on the streets of Ethiopian cities and villages.
I defended TPLF as a movement that can correct itself, during repeated human rights violations for too long. I feel ashamed of myself of this miss-judgement. I take a burden up on myself to make sure that the thousands of innocent life lost in the hands of TPLF and its crony assassins will not be lost in vain!!

I join hands with thousands of international volunteers that trace, record and persecute in-front of the court of justice, the crimes that the TPLF government committed on to the Ethiopian people.

What an Idiotic gesture, Ethiopian is your country not kenya, the real reayality of OROMO PROTESTERS are naked now a days.
he said he wanted to Kenya and fight for independence from ethiopia good luck with that .
IN the ethiopian diaspora the members of OLF are infiltrated every where look in EVERY DM the OLF flag is persent.
OMN (OROMO MEDIA NETWORK) IN ESAT a lot of oromo people including ERMIQS LEGESE, NEIEMN ZELEKE even G7 are allied with the oromoes including ethiopian the opdo is invaded with OLF.
The foolish diaspora are not yet awakening until the disintegration of MAMA ETHIOPIAN.
OLF and Shabia tried to create animosity between amhara and tigrean to their Grand mission which independence “BELISUMA”
Wake up people!
The IAAF has to file a lawsuit against this guy .
Olympic is free of religious and politics thus this idiotic symbol has no purpose in the Olympic game.
Will see what will happen next.

This is the kind of person the extremists have been targeted; uneducated, young radicalized, and politically immature. The people in Addis Ababa though, are becoming politically mature understand of how local politics is related to regional and global politics. Addis sent a strong message to the whole country that illegal demonstrations are not good for Addis Ababa and it is not good to other cities either. I believe very soon each major city in Ethiopia will follow suit the example of Addis Ababa. Expect more of the same as the Ethiopian Olympian did from other people who have the same caliper as he has. Most people in Addis though are digesting information before they apply any of that garbage from Facebook and internet. We are seeing a pattern now that people who are easily persuade by Facebook information lack the sophistication to process that information and the government has to do a better job of informing the public , particularly the young.

Wolkayit is billion times useful, important and legitimate to Gonder/Amhara than Assab to Ethiopia. Raya and other places are billion times useful, legitimate and important to wollo/Amhara than anything Ethiopia is looking in Eritrea. The Amhara region lost more than the size of Eritrea from its historical and legitimate land because of the TPLF Ethnic policy and kilil designed specifically to target the Amhara waging hateful and genocide wars against them since 1975. Eritrea is our friend, not enemy but TPLF and its crazy supporters that are suffering from the worst form of the Rwandan Syndrome. I can be easily and truly become a good friend with any Eritrean but not with libe Tigrians.

Tigreans so called politicians are criminals. Look at the 84 years old Sebhat Nega and his 12 brothers and sisters. Arkebe Equbay, Abay Thsahy, the so called security chief, Brhane Gebre Kirstos and you name it. All of them are family related with blood or marriage. They are looters, killers, criminals working together. Debretsion is the PM of Ethiopia appointed by the TPLF criminals.

The funny thing is the behavior the so called Tigrian intellectuals that are created by TPLF with no competency or education but getting free degrees from UK with the exchange of money, business, and political reasons using them for their projects in our country including that sick Theodros Adhanom who will be on the ICC court with crimes against humanity targeting the Amharas working together with racist and hateful foreign forces particularly from UK and USA including so called NGOs, charities, aid agencies and so on all of them are known and their crimes are recorded.

They think they are smart to hijack the Ethiopian people attention from overthrowing them and free our nation and people. They are talking about Port Asab; these evil Tigreans themselves gave it to Issayas.

No, we don’t care about Asab port or anything else but TPLF and its sick Tigreans supporters the crimes they are committing in the country. Wolkayit is billion times useful, important and legitimate than anything else in Eritrea or elsewhere to all Ethiopians. Raya is the same. The Eritrean issue is started 120 years ago. The Wolkayit, Raya and other Amhara land issues are officially started 20 years ago when the criminal TPLF invade and took them by force despite they are the historical and natural Amhara territories belongs to all Ethiopians including Metekel and huge areas in Shewa.

No one cares about Asab but you. When you are gone, Ethiopia and Eritrea can solve all the differences between them and work and benefit together. You are the cancers between them. You are the one waged war against them and lost the case after 10,000s Ethiopians and Eritreans killed and lots of property lost.

Ethiopians and Eritreans will work together to eliminate TPLF from the Ethiopian soil. Eritrea is not only Tigrigna but other 8 Ethnic groups as well including the mighty Tigre (not Tigre in Tigry)

Yes, you clearly showed what you are is an Agent of the Eritrean Government, I do not care where welakayit or raya goes too, but you will not rest in peace, when your neibougher burns you will too, learn from Somalia!! By disintegrating Ethiopia, you think, you will live in peace is impossible!! Human being will pass, but history will be there who you are ” band as”

It was clear it’s defection.while he was giving a brief to z media in bole air port Before his deparation he wore oromia alert around his neck & said he does not need team spirit in z game. He was talking in oromia. Also during z ceremony he had oromia flag in his arm as if he was competition for oromia. So, his problem is not with z gov’t but Ethiopians. Shame on u. Who cares about u. Simply OLF. Why not disintegrate into pieces.

PROTESTANT IS THE PRIME MINSTER, SO THE PEOPLE ARE LED INTO PROTESTING ! IF ANYONE SHOULD BE BLAMED IT IS THEIR LEADER NOT THE PEOPLE. ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS . HAILEMARIAM SAYS ONE THING BUT DOES ANOTHER THING.

poor Feyisa Lilesa mistaken RIO for America what he doesnt know is Rio is crime capital they will kill him for his money or he should go to KENYA as he suggested and sit there for next five year waiting his asylum paper processed by that time he will be to old to run …

the poor Feyisa Lilesa doesnt have right to protest on Ethiopian govt. dime … yes he a have freedom of speech to protest but not in our dime he who paid for his hotel and his air fair … his Ethiopian govt. responsible form now on for his cost of living how this thing work?

anyhow another thing i notice is those Washington post Tv and newspaper encouraging hims and calling him a hero and even telling him to bring his family and wife to America they said they will welcome him open hand

mind u this idiot Washington post encouraging one man to come to America by doing so instigating civil war in Ethiopia and when Ethiopia become another Libya and Syria would this idiot form Washington post will say let Ethiopian poor come because they would be responsible for the civil war …. no they will change their tune

even so this idiot Washington post telling the poor man come in we take u as if they have the power or the means to do it … USA immigration law doesnt work that way everyone is equal everyone must wait online and that line might take five years but gullible trust them and the million oromo might think America support them and they burn their own city in hope of going to America

i beef is not with gullible Washington post journalist but with Ethiopian govt. they should hire people to fight online and answering the Washington post this is war on internet i dont think Ethiopian govt. ready for it this Washington post tv show where the journalist encouraging and telling the runner to come to America should be challenged by Ethiopian govt.

how they like it if Ethiopian govt. telling all American black athlete who support black life matter to come to Ethiopia if this Washington post would say the same thing if black America did the same thing and support black life matter on the Olympic stage those athlete would be lost million in endorsement they would be untouchable and guess what the Washington post would not say the same thing

i dont know why American Washington post support violent oromo protest that burn the city down and riot and loot why this violent protest claim they have no idea about Ethiopia but still support the athlete without knowing anything and caused harm to Ethiopia that they have no skin in the game if Ethiopia become another Libya … i think Ethiopia govt. should sue those journalist damaging Ethiopian brand even Ethiopian govt lose that would be good for us the oromo back home think Washington post is not above the law

can we all please stop for a second and think?! people in our country are safe and happy why would want anyone want to ruin that?! please we all just need peace! even chinese are living peacefully when they only have one party in their political system. please cant we all ( oromo, amhara, tigray etc) just live in harmony? please just think about the peace loving people!

Tiger fox this is ethiopian issue u faag Shabiya; get lost. Is that all you can say. By the way Shabiya is messing with Ethiopian politics. That’s why as we speak the Ethiopian airforce is bombarding Asab, Massawa and Asmera. Kita Ras.

dereje from arba minch,
the action of this athlete implicates two things ;-
1st, since our constitution recognizes one’s right to reflect his opinion, I don’t think his action is wrong.
2nd, rather than focusing on his ” wrongful act” it would be better if we appreciate him for his contribution for his country than those who seeks crisis in our country. Africa needs the support of Africans no matter how you are with odd bhrs/opinion. inability to recognize this fact shows how backwards in our understanding of the true meaning of freedom.

Hero………. he did well thanks bro!!!!!! we know Ethiopia government is lion for external police but he is master killer of his people!!!!! and he stand only for one nation (all track driver from Ethiopia to Djibouti is tigre, mekelakeya is all tigre, forgian affairs , ….,etc )so this all tigre people abuse this guy he did wrong hahaha !!!!!!! Feyissa is our hero he tell ur fault to worldwide